Childcare Landscape Study - Flipbook - Page 44
Davidson County Child Care Landscape Study Results
2
Care Provider Survey) and provided sufficient information to be included in this analysis. The
center-based analytic sample is largely representative of the overall population of child care
centers. Throughout this brief, we use survey respondent results (n=116) to generate estimates
of center-based child care supply at the population level (N=246), providing a new and
detailed picture of the child care landscape across greater Davidson County.b
Background
The greater Davidson County region is home to approximately 57,000 children under age 5,
with a total population of approximately 900,000.5,6 Greater Davidson County has a racially
and ethnically diverse population, with 58 percent of people in the region identifying as
White, 22 percent identifying as Black, 12 percent identifying as Hispanic, and 8 percent
identifying as another race or ethnicity.7 Currently, 17 percent of children under age 5 in this
region live below the Federal Poverty Level, compared to 12 percent of the total population,
indicating a higher concentration of economic hardship among families with young
children.8 Approximately 70 percent, or 39,900 children, live in households in which all
parents in the household are in the workforce.9
Families seeking formal child care often turn to local child care centers, or licensed early
care and education programs that operate in nonresidential settings, because state licensing
requirements and oversight help ensure consistent standards for child safety and program
quality. Child care centers in Tennessee are overseen by one of two state agencies, either
Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) or Tennessee Department of Education
(TDOE), which each set their own quality parameters and oversight processes.10
Greater Davidson County
is home to approximately
39,900 children under age 5
in households in which
all parents work
Greater Davidson County’s child care capacity likely falls short of meeting the needs of
families across various backgrounds. Previous Policy Impact Center research on greater
Davidson County suggests that an estimated 47 percent of all local children under age 5 live
in areas that could be considered child care deserts, or areas in which children outnumber
licensed child care slots by a rate of at least 3 to 1.11 These mismatches between child care
supply and the population of young children can impact families’ ability to find care that
aligns with their needs and preferences.
b To review the complete methodology and approach for the Davidson County Child Care Landscape Study, refer to the
online Methods Appendix.
Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center 2026
www.pn3policy.org
